We survived the infamous, nefarious, notorious Burlington, Vermont, after dark!

On the left is a Carolina Wren. A new one for us this year. Hope he’s not caught unawares by Vermont winter.

I feel such a sense of peace today. Or call it ennui or bummed or lazy or uninspired or unenergetic – or call it peaceful.

It’s a judgment.

New expensive beefy tree stand! We turned our backs and the tree fell down again.

I’m really taking this to heart.

Look at the magnitude of the problem I’m trying to “fix.” Justifiable grieving and a lifelong depression? You cannot fix this. However much of yourself you pour into it will never, ever be enough. There is in fact very, very little that I control in this world beyond the reach of my little fingers. You can only make the best of whatever is within that tiny little reach.

So, what am I willing to do? Decide what I can and am willing to do for this person. Do it, and make peace with it.

Good advice from my brother:

If there’s something you don’t want to do, but you feel you should, but you really don’t want to, but you feel you really have to…

either, a) Don’t do it. And make peace with that. or,

b) Do it. And make peace with that.

Do not: Do it, and still feel bad about it!

Because that’s what I do, because it never feels like enough, but it will never be enough.

These crackers are so thin, so pale, so devoid of flavor, I don’t feel like you should top them or toast them, I feel like you should consecrate them.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/11/03/insomnia-tips-better-sleep/

Think of sleep as a bodily function.

When you have a wound, it’s not your job to heal it. It’s your body’s job to heal it.

When something flies up your nose, it’s not your job to sneeze. It’s your body’s job to sneeze.

When it gets dark and night rolls around, it’s not your job to sleep. It’s your body’s job to sleep.

Your body’s failure to sleep is not a referendum on your life.

Are people who are not currently hiccupping morally superior, more “zen”, living their best life, moreso than people who are currently hiccupping?

Are people who have not just stubbed their toe morally superior, more “zen”, living their best life, moreso than people who have just stubbed their toe?

People who do not (currently) have sleep issues are not doing the life thing better than you. This isn’t a referendum on your life. It’s a stubbed toe, basically.